Press Releases
Sarah Bess Joins Viking Capital

July 14, 2022 – Viking Capital, one of the leading finance companies in the swimming pool industry, is proud to announce its newest team member, Sarah Bess.
She will join the Viking team as the Director of Business Development, overseeing key
accounts and strategic partnerships within the pool and home improvement industry.
Sarah joins Viking after serving as the Marketing Director for Lyon Financial for 7 years,
building relationships with pool builders, manufacturers, and home remodelers alike.
Her background in sales, customer service, and business development will enhance
Viking’s unprecedented growth for the remainder of 2022 and beyond.
Greg Powell, President of Viking Capital states: “We’re very happy to have Sarah on
board and proud that she chose to bring her abilities to Viking Capital.
We have such a fantastic team and adding Sarah is another feather in our cap.”
Since 1999, Viking Capital has provided swimming pool financing services with
personalized customer attention to ensure every pool loan is a perfect fit!
Our financing consultants will find the best loan available for your clients’ needs and
qualifications.
If you’d like to learn more about Viking Capital’s builder-partner services and loan
programs, email her at [email protected].
Manufacturer
CCEI Taps Martin Grenier to Head North American Operations

CCEI, is pleased to announce the hiring of Martin Grenier to head their North American operations. Martin has over 10 years of experience in the swimming pool industry having worked for Hayward for over 7 years plus other positions in both retail and distribution. CCEI is a manufacturer of automation and controller systems in the US as well as lighting systems in Canada, Mexico, Europe and Africa with its head office located in France.
Martin is now responsible for operations and sales for both the company’s US and Canadian markets and is also charged with raising brand and product awareness of CCEI’s products throughout the North American pool industry. “As an established supplier in Europe, we are focused on raising awareness of our products and services with pool builders, retailers and distributors, while also working to form strategic partnerships in the US and Canada,” says Grenier. A native of Canada, Martin is also fluent in English and French. “Martin has already made a significant impact in the Canadian swimming pool market and we are confident CCEI will continue to experience exponential growth in sales of our products in both the US and Canadian markets,” says Sébastian Chéreau, Head of CCEI’s Global Marketing. “We are pleased to have Martin join our team and share his expertise with our company as he helps align our marketing strategies and goals across all branches of CCEI around the world,” says Sébastien Chéreau, Marketing Director for CCEI.
Since 1973, CCEI has been designing and manufacturing electrical equipment for private and public pools. Over the years, we have acquired in-depth experience with pools and their specific constraints. Starting as a manufacturer specialized in electrical boxes, CCEI has expanded to different areas, including automatic water treatment and lighting for pools.
CCEI’s technical team has also grown and now has a team with recognized skills in electronics, optics and electrochemistry. With this knowledge, CCEI is now able to provide global, adapted solutions to pool builders and industries and enhance the safety, ergonomics and reliability of pool facilities.
Martin can be reached at the company’s offices in Montreal at: [email protected].
More information about the company’s US operations can be found at:
www.ccei-pool.com/us/
CCEI USA Inc., Inglewood, CA 90301
Pool Service News
Michelle Kavanaugh Joins Western Show Board

Long Beach, CA – June 25, 2025 – The Western Pool & Spa Show proudly announces the appointment of Michelle Kavanaugh to its Board of Directors, bringing decades of industry expertise, strategic leadership, and a passion for education and empowerment to one of the pool industry’s most respected events.
According to Show Director Eric Nielson, “Michelle brings a wealth of experience in the swimming pool industry in both association management and education. She possesses unique skill sets that will be invaluable in sustaining the show’s growth and fulfilling its mission to promote education in the industry. We couldn’t be more pleased.”
Michelle Kavanaugh is a renowned business strategist, marketing mentor, and advocate for both trade professionals and women. With over 20 years of experience in strategic planning, marketing, and leadership, she has consistently driven transformation and growth across organizations, helping small business owners thrive through personalized coaching and her signature SMART solutions.
She is the founder of Michelle Kavanaugh Inc., where she works closely with entrepreneurs to bring clarity, structure, and momentum to their businesses. Her previous leadership roles include serving as Executive Director of the California Pool & Spa Association and spending 14 years with the National Swimming Pool Foundation, where she led mission development, managed the Certified Pool Operator (CPO) Certification program, and produced major industry events, such as the World Aquatic Health Conference.
Outside of the industry, Michelle’s passion for impact extends into advocacy. Inspired by the book Half the Sky, she dedicated four years to supporting survivors of domestic violence through TESSA of Colorado Springs. Today, she serves on the board of Awaken Your Lioness, a nonprofit that empowers formerly incarcerated women to rebuild their lives and communities.
Originally from South Dakota and raised in Colorado, Michelle relocated to Texas in 2023. She is a proud mother, a dynamic public speaker, and a lifelong learner known for her professionalism, optimism, and results-driven leadership.
Now celebrating its 48th year, the Western Pool & Spa Show is the largest pool industry trade show on the West Coast. Since 1978, the nonprofit, all-volunteer organization has remained a leader in both education and industry exhibition, offering an expansive show floor and what many consider the best educational programming in the pool and spa industry.
Michelle Kavanaugh’s appointment reinforces the Show’s ongoing commitment to innovation and education as it looks toward the future.
For more information about the Western Pool & Spa Show, visit www.westernshow.com.
Pool News
Ceramic Tile Coalition Files Anti-Dumping Appeal with USCIT

(Clemson, SC) — On Monday, June 23rd, the Coalition for Fair Trade in Ceramic Tile (Coalition) filed a Complaint with the U.S. Court of International Trade (USCIT) following the Summons it filed on May 23rd, contesting certain aspects of the final determination issued by the U.S. Department of Commerce (“Commerce”) in its antidumping investigation of ceramic tile from India. The final determination was published by Commerce in the Federal Register as Ceramic Tile from India: Final Negative Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value and Final Negative Determination of Critical Circumstances, 90 Fed. Reg. 17030.
In the Complaint, the Coalition challenged Commerce’s handling of the affiliates of the largest Indian exporters, Commerce’s accepting of new information during on-site verification, and Commerce’s handling of scrap in the tariff calculation.
“As we previously noted, by statute, Commerce is time-limited in its investigation, at a time when more trade remedy actions were launched than at any other point in Commerce’s history,” said Eric Astrachan, executive director of the Coalition. “We are truly sympathetic to the obstacles Commerce investigators faced, but we firmly believe Commerce didn’t have all the facts at hand to decide this case.”
“In particular, for their own financial well-being, we want the importer and distributor community to be aware that any finding resulting in an anti-dumping tariff should be retroactive to April 23, 2025,” added Mr. Astrachan. “That tariff may be substantial,” noted Andrew Whitmire, trade data analyst for the Tile Council of North America. “Anyone tracking the world prices for ceramic tile knows that once Commerce has all the requisite information, a dumping tariff is entirely possible.”
About Tile Council of North America (TCNA)
TCNA is a trade association representing manufacturers of ceramic tile, tile installation materials, tile equipment, raw materials and other tile-related products. Established in 1945 as the Tile Council of America (TCA), it became the Tile Council of North America (TCNA) in 2005, reflecting its membership expansion to all of North America.
The Tile Council is recognized for its leadership role in facilitating the development of North American and international industry quality standards to benefit tile consumers. Additionally, TCNA regularly conducts independent research and product testing, works with regulatory, trade, and other government agencies, and publishes installation guidelines, tile standards, economic reports, and promotional literature.
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